Bomb lug protector



Patented Mar. 30, 1943 UNTED STATES vPATENT GFFHCE BOMB LUG PROTECTOR Application March 7, 1942, Serial No. 433,797

2 Claims.

lugs projecting from the side of the bomb body. x

Such suspension lugs are in the form of an eye or a loop, which together with a mounting base, are located in, or on, the wall of the bomb housing, and are provided for the ultimate purpose of attaching the bomb to the carrying and release hooks or hangers in an airplane. The mounting of the bombs in the bomb rack and the proper, accurate functioning of the bomb release mechanism both require that the suspension lugs be oi their originally specified manufactured form and disposition and be not bent out of shape or contour. Such suspension lugs are attached to the steel bomb casing at an early stage of manufacture, and hence during subsequent manufacturing and assembly operations, handling, convey-e l.

ing and transporting, these lugs are most likely to be subjected to a severe blow or contact suincient to either produce a deformation thereof, or even to break them from their mountings.

Accordingly, it is the general object and nature of my present invention to provide a wooden protector which is temporarily attached to the cylindrical exterior surface of the bomb body, and overlies and surrounds the suspension lugs.

A further object and advantage of my invention is to provide such a bomb lug protector which will be capable of receiving any shock or impact, such as from collision with other objects, and thus cushion the blow and distribute it over a large area of the bomb body surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a wooden bomb lug protector which may be easily assembled and removed from the bomb body witha minimum of time and labor, and at the same time will provide access to the suspension lugs, such as by the attachment of a lifting or conveying hook, if need be, without disturbing or removing the protector from its originally assembled position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide, in conjunction with the bomb lug protector, a flat surface aiding in the stacking of the cylindrical bomb bodies and preventing them from rolling.

And a further object is to so conform the-edges of my wooden bomb lug protector as to eliminate any sharp or abrupt edges which would otherwise be likely to become broken or splintered; and thus contributing to human safety in handling.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the Various Ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a bomb body showing bomb lug protectors embodying the principle of my invention as applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed plan view looking at the bottom, concave side of the two-lug protector blocks;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View taken along line ll--ll of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view Itaken along line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View, similar to that of Fig. 3, showing a modified form of the bomb lug receiving opening.

Now referring more particularly to the drawing, the bomb body I shown therein has a cylindrical surface throughout the majority of its length, that is, between the nose and the tail. Suspension lugs project from the cylindrical sides of the bomb body and comprise an eye or loop 2 assembled with a base member 3, the latter usually being mounted by a fastening (not shown) through the metallic wall of the bomb body i. Either a single loop 2 with its base 3, such as indicated on the right-hand side of Fig. l, or two lugs or loops 2 and their bases 3', as indicated on the left-hand side of Fig. l, may be attached to the bomb body.

A Wooden block 4, preferably fabricated from a wood capable rof receiving severe blows or im pacts without breaking, splitting or disruption, such as maple, has a concavely curved side ii which fits over the cylindrical outer surface ol the bomb body I, and is substantially of the same radius of curvature as that of the bomb surface in order to insure a full surface-to-surface contact. The marginal edges of the side of the block 4 adjacent the concave groove or surface 6 are flattened as indicated at l, in order to eliminate any sharp edge which would otherwise tend to splinter olf or injure the workmans hands when assembling and handling the protector. The opposite or outer side of the block 4 is in the form of a fiat surface as indicated at 8, and whose marginal edges are beveled as indicated at S,

bomb bodies either individually or together, as the case might be.

'I'he protector blocks 4 and 4 have stepped openings I3 therein adaptedrto lit over *andV surround the suspension lugs 2 and 2. The inner portions of these openings, as indicated at I2, are of the larger diameter or cross sectional area which is substantially greater than the greatest width of the base 3 or 3 of the suspension lugs.

It will be noted that the thickness of the blocks d is slightly greater than the height of the lugs 2 or 2', so that the outer surface 8 of the blocks is disposed beyond the ends of the lugs. As shown in Fig. 6, the lug receiving openings in the pro tector blocks may be made square or rectangular rather than circular. Thus the stepped opening I4 is of squared cross sectional shape and has an enlarged portion adjacent the -concave surface 6', the dimensions of such enlarged portion I5 being substantially greater than the maximum width of the baseV 3 of the suspension lugs.

It will thus be seen that my above described invention provides means for effectively protecting the bomb lugs against any exterior blow or impact tending to deform or damage them, while at the sameitime it is capable of itself receiving the damaging effect of such a blow, cushioning and dissipating its effect over a large area of the bomb body as a whole. I f

Otherl forms may be employed embodying the features of my invention instead of the one here explained, change being made in the form or construction, provided the elements stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. In an aerial bomb, the combination of a cylindrical bomb body, a suspension lug projecting from said body, a wooden protecting block for said bomb body and said lug, said block having a concave longitudinal groove on one side adapted to t against the cylindrical surface of said bomb body, having 'a fiat surface on its opposite side, and an opening extending through said block of greater cross sectional area than that of said lug and adapted to overlie and surround the latter, said block being of greater thickness than the projecting extent of said lug, and retaining straps surrounding said block and said bomb body for clamping said block to said bomb body.

2. In an aerial bomb, the combination of a cylindrical bomb body, a suspension lug projecting from said body, a wooden protecting block for said bomb body and said lug, said block having a concave longitudinal groove on one side adapted to fit against the cylindrical surface of said bomb body, having a vflat surface on its opposite side, and an opening extending through said block of greater cross sectional area than that of said lug and adapted to overlie and surround the latter, said block being of greater thickness than the projecting extent of said lug, and retaining straps surrounding said block and said bomb body for clamping said block to said bomb body and flat marginal edges on said block adjacent said concave groove.

ALFRED W. HINCHCLIFF. 

